The World

The State Department, responding to published reports that South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae Jung will be imprisoned when he returns to Seoul on Feb. 8, expressed hope that his return will be "trouble-free." Washington has made known its hope that Kim's return will be untroubled, and "that remains our position," spokesman Bernard Kalb said. Kalb said the United States has discussed Kim's case with all concerned parties, and the U.S. position "is known and understood by those parties."